Idol Time For Campers

Broward Parks Program Gives Talented Youngsters A Chance To Become Stars -- Just Like On Television.

July 30, 2004|By Jennifer LeClaire Special Correspondent and Staff Writer Nazish Ahmad contributed to this report.

Long before Fox TV's musical reality series American Idol became a smash hit, Broward Star Time was making local celebrities out of summer campers ages 6 to 17.

More than 400 youths strutted their stuff at the 14th annual Broward Star Time talent showcase last week. Hosted by the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, the competition at the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood showed off talented kids from summer recreation programs.

The atmosphere was hyped with a disc jockey who looked like she came straight off MTV, a panel of judges that seemed almost as excited as the children, and scads of emerging superstars with pigtails, braided hair, tennis hats and polished white sneakers. From singers and dancers to musicians and actors to step teams and orators, these kids set to prove that Broward County is home to some future pop idols.

"Broward Star Time gives young people a chance to explore their artistic and creative abilities," said Chester Pruitt, superintendent for the parks division's central district.

The Triple Threat, a trio of sisters from North Broward Park, gave it all they had in the woodsy amphitheater with its miniature stage and disco ball hanging from the ceiling. The sisters in the Brazilian act dressed in yellow tops and green pants and wasted no time impressing the judges with a routine combining martial arts and modern dance.

"We choreographed this dance ourselves," said Araja Johnson, 11, with sisters Azmera, 10, and Azyssinia, 8, proudly nodding in agreement. "We've been working on this act since last December, but this is the first time we've performed in a talent show."

The Shakers, a group of 10 ranging in age from 7 to 12, was made up mostly of contest veterans. Pompano Beach Highlands resident Jordan Humphrey, 12, said the group got a few new teammates this year.

While most of the contestants were girls, a few brave males took their chances at the grand prize, including The Drummer Boys. The quartet used Crayola markers and bare wrists to create a catchy beat on a tabletop a la Broadway hit Stomp.

"We were a little nervous," admitted Justin Chatman, 11, from Deerfield Beach. "But if we win, I am going to brag to everybody at school next year."

Alexandria, who hopes to be a stage performer when she grows up, felt more than excited. "I felt really brave because there were so many people watching, but I think we did very good."

Most performers rehearsed for several weeks, but the Lake Forest Panthers, from Lake Forest Park in Pembroke Park, had only three days to prep for their new routine, which combined moves and music from the street-dancing movie You Got Served. Linda Johnson, 17, Victoria Wallace, 12, Dominque Wallace, 10, Master Houston, 12, Joseph Lyles, 11, and Ashley Williams, 11, have been participants in Broward Star Time for three years. The troupe last year had chosen the soundtrack from another movie, Drumline.

A group from McTyre Park in Pembroke Park checked themselves in the mirror and did a quick dry run in the lobby.

"We know we're gonna go out there and rock the house," said Brianna McCrea, 10, of Hollywood. She, Octavia Turnbull, 11, and Tamia Turnbull, 8, of Pembroke Pines, and Terraneka Rahming, 11, of Miramar, were decked out in hula outfits complete with flower necklaces and footgear.

They joined eight others and danced to an eclectic mix of rap and hip-hop songs. Brianna, Terraneka and Octavia choreographed the moves and the group decided on hula outfits because there would be a lot of shaking.

After a pumping performance that had even the competition grooving in their chairs, the girls agreed that they set the stage on fire.

Ask the kids how badly they want to win the jumbo trophy and they all have the same response: "really, really bad." All participants received a "Broward Star Time" T-shirt, but only one can win at the finals scheduled to begin at 6 tonight at Parkway Middle School west of Fort Lauderdale. Eighteen acts will vie to be winner.

"For the many children in our program, this is a unique opportunity to be involved in something that lets them develop and rehearse their act, then perform it in front of a live audience," Pruitt said. "It's something every one of them is sure to remember for years to come."